Can a sex offender change his name?
Full Question:
One of my old drivers is a registered sex offender. He was convicted of a sex crime act and is placed on the Sexual Offender Registry. He has been released on parole now. Can he change his name through court?
02/22/2017 |
Category: Name Change |
State: West Virginia |
#32650
Answer:
W. Va. Code § 48-25-101 reads:
“(a) A person desiring a change of his or her own name, or that of his or her child, may apply to the circuit court or family court of the county in which he or she resides by a verified petition setting forth and affirming the following:
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(5) The petitioner seeking the name change is not a registered sex offender pursuant to any state or federal law;
***”
W. Va. Code § 48-25-103§ 48-25-103 reads:
“***
(c) The court may not grant any change of name for any person required to register with the State Police pursuant to the provisions of article twelve [§§ 15-12-1 et seq.], chapter fifteen of this code during the period that the person is required to register.
***”
W. Va. Code § 15-12-1 reads:
“This article may be cited as the "Sex Offender Registration Act."”
It looks the court may not grant the name change of your old driver since he is a registered sex offender.
